Police announce 5% tax increase too!

Look away now if yesterday’s announcement of a 5% rise in the amount of tax you will be paying Powys County Council gave you nightmares.

Because hot on the heels of that eye popping announcement, Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, said we’ll have to cough up another 5% for them.

The outrage following the Powys announcement was understandable given that the inflation rate is almost half that figure, and the fact that Mr Llywelyn said he was “pleased” his increase had gone through won’t go down well either.

“I am pleased my proposal to increase the police precept by 5% has today (Friday) been unanimously accepted by the Police and Crime Panel,” he said.

“Today’s agreement means a typical Band D property will pay £224.56 for policing in 2018/19, an increase of £10.69 for the year, or 21p per week.

“The Force has been graded as ‘Good’ in the most recent report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and this level of funding will protect the number of police officers and allow the force to continue to make positive progress over the coming year.”

Welshpool Town Council is yet to announce whether they will also be adding to local resident’s financial woes by increasing their piece of the council tax pie.